'91 Prado Temp Issues

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S

SoloTrain

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Feb 6, 2007
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1
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9
Just picked up a '91 RHD Prado Turbo Diesel from Japan.

Drove it for a day and realized the rad had a leak. Got the rad pulled and fully refurbished top to bottom, new cores and everything.

Drove the next day for 8.5 hrs up and down Mtn. passes... the Prado was purrin' like a kitten, with the temp gauge sitting at the same spot the entire time (little lower than middle).

Day after this, drove for about an hour, then up a steep, sustained hill running 25-2800rpm and the temp jumped WAY up (but not in the red). Got home, popped hood and the overflow tank was pretty full with coolant leaking out the overflow hose.

Next day, attempted the same hill, same RPM, and temp jumped again, but not as high. Hmmmmm.

Today, checked levels in the morning while cold and overflow tank was empty, so added some coolant direct to rad, but it only took a teaspoon or so, left overflow empty. Then, I tackled the same hill after driving the truck for a hour or so... this time, the temp crept up slowly, and then shot up to the red suddenly... I let off the gas, it came back down... crept up hill further, it was mellow, and then jumped up into redzone again! As I got home, I checked levels again, and overflow was full, with coolant bubbling.

Any suggestions? Wrong coolant to water ratio? Are there specific diesel coolants to use? I'm new to the whole diesel thing, don't mind me, but super excited about my new Prado.

Any suggestions would be fantastic.

Cheers.
 
Thanks Saswoi.

Did the quick search and one word... = YIKES.

Not a lot of Prado fans out there by the sounds of things.

I'll try the 'burp' and go from there, see where it takes me.
 
If it wasn't for the overflow and bubbling I would ask if the fuel level needle came up with the temp, which is a common fault in the dash (bad ground from a loose screw) but this time again it might be head time :(
You have air in the system indeed. that air comes from the cylinder through the head cracks, pushes the water out. When you start having more air in the system the cooling is affected dramatically. There is a point where the problem will do nothing but worsen.
Good luck
 
cracked head...
welcome to the world of Prado. if you do a search you will see how much i have spent on mine to make it more relaible...$6000 so far and i have now taken the new head to the upper white line twice off road... if this head oges then a match will be inserted and some marsh mellows will get roasted...
as it is i am thinking of taking hte diffs and sticking them under the PZJ70 and selling the rest...
 
Thanks for the posts. I guess I'll look into getting cash back from the dealer I bought the truck from? Maybe trade him for a 3L VX that he has? Or something else? I bought this truck from him only a week ago... anyone know of legalities here?

Again, Cheers.
 
The 3L engine are ( here ) bulletproff engines .. has " no " problems with heads and sure are more reliable ( coz are non turbo engines ) but certanly slowww if you compare with turbo engines ..
 
SoloTrain said:
Thanks for the posts. I guess I'll look into getting cash back from the dealer I bought the truck from? Maybe trade him for a 3L VX that he has? Or something else? I bought this truck from him only a week ago... anyone know of legalities here?

Again, Cheers.
Click to expand...

where are you?
 
Hey Wayne,

I'm in the interior of British Columbia. And on a previous post, I was talking about the VX 3L turbo diesel RHD import from Japan. Is this a more reliable truck than the Prado I bought a week ago. <Wish I would have got on this site deeper before purchasing.> My main reason for the Prado was fuel efficiency (first tank was 700km or so easy on the Hwy.) and space. The 3L VX seems to be more SUV style, but still roomie? Probably not as good on fuel though?

Thanks for all the help... I am not shy to admit I'm a Rookie as it states below my name... these threads are SO valuable.
 
:frown: I'm trying to come up with a plan of attack for my Prado 'issues'... How does one determine if the head IS truly cracked? I have an appt. at a shop, will a mechanic be able to determine this?

Once I have established this (that the head IS cracked) I guess I have three choices:

1. To turn and run from the Prado trying to get my money back from the dealer and keep driving my 90 Tacoma into the ground,

2. Trade the dealer the Prado for a LC 3L VX - (turbo diesel straight 6 block) is this engine much better??,

3. Fix the head and all of the appropriate bits and pieces to then have a sweet Prado diesel?

Hmmmm, not sure which direction to go, only time will tell... ???
 
Bring it back to the dealer and have him fix the issue or give your money back.
If you're talking about the more suv-ish 3.0L then its probably a 4runner/ hilux surf of some sort ? It will be about as roomy and more fuel efficient thanks to better aerodynamics, but less suitable for serious offroading. Tha 1KZ-T (3.0° head is not bulletproof either BTW.
 
Trying to figure out what this 3L VX is. If it is an inline 6, it must be a HZJ73? 77? Did the Surf ever get a VX designation? It sure never had a 6-cyl diesel!?

I say get the dealer to take it back. No one wants to deal with a cracked head on a week-old truck. Use whatever channels you can to either get your money back or have the head replaced, if indeed it is the head. Have you tested/replaced the rad cap and thermostat? These things will cause the same symptoms. The dealer should do this stuff for you. Tell them to put a new rad cap and (tested) thermostat on there, and try that hill again. If it boils over, your head is likely toast. Take the thing back. Unless you're really into the truck (they are super cool units), in which case you could have them do the repair (under warranty or whatever). Hopefully they know what the hell they're doing.

Sorry to hear about your truck - I've been there, done that, and I lived to tell the tale. To tell the truth, it cost me more to replace the fawking ECU on the VW Westfalia than it did to replace the head on my Prado, so it's really not that big of deal. But after only one week? The dealer needs to take care of you, whatever you decide.
 
take it back and get your money back...
it is not worth the hassle if you can get a refund.

cheers
 
Thanks again for the advice Fellas, much appreciated.

I just took the Prado for a spin with a buddy who has a CDN Diesel LC. He established that the heads are not cracked as we flew up another pass running it pretty good (2-3000rpm the entire time with turbo engaged) and the temp stuck the entire time below the half point, it does run really smooth, no temp issues at all - today anyway?!?

This morning I too tryed 'burping' the rad as much as possible, who knows if this helped. I won't hit the 'culprit' hill where the temp jumped the 3 original times I talked about until I bring it to the shop to see where I'm at.

I am taking it to a shop on Monday to have it checked out and I guess will go from there and base any decisions I make from there.

Again, a bit of a drag to deal with, but could it perhaps be something less significant like the thermostat or fan clutch?
 
BTW - the dealer where I purchased the truck is ~10hr drive from where I am now, so taking it that direction isn't really an option unless I DO decide to return it.
 
Wow, I'm reading SO much now about past experiences with the Prado (after buying mine!).

I guess what I am going to do next week, if it is established that my heads are NOT cracked, is do what Wayne says, be proactive on possible problems... put in a Pyrometer, maybe larger exhaust, block the ??? I forget what this one was, and increase the boost? Then drive it according to the Pyrometer... can someone explain how to do this? As well, can I get a appropriate Pyro at a local shop? And aftermarket temp gauge? If someone could outline the things that 'one' should do to own, operate, and drive a Prado 'as successful' as possible keeping the temp issues at bay, that would be great.

Thanks again and again and again and....
 
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